Energy Education

Over the past five years, NYSERDA has delivered professional development and provided free energy efficiency and renewable energy training materials to over 8,000 K-12 teachers. Additionally, we work with many training providers across the state to provide job skills and worker readiness leading toward certification and employment. These programs serve young people and adults preparing for careers in energy efficiency/building science and renewable energy.

We are currently developing new workforce training programs that will be implemented in 2012-2016. These programs will include initiatives for teachers, guidance counselors, and high school students and will focus on technical training and preparation for careers in energy and advanced technologies. More details will be available soon.

Energy Action at Home

Looking for a way to integrate energy into your classroom? Check out our unique workbook, Energy Action at Home, which is full of information, fast facts, energy tips, and interactive activities that teach children about the energy they use every day and how to help conserve our limited resources. It’s a teaching workbook with step-by-step guidance on a variety of energy-related topics. Best of all, the workbook is available free of charge.

Download the Energy Action at Home [PDF] booklet.  There are no restrictions on reproducing the booklet from the digital file, as long as it is used for educational purposes (and not for resale).

Alternatively, you can request multiple copies for a classroom, club, or youth group. Limit 50 copies per person, while supplies last.

Project-Based Global Climate Change Education

NASA awarded a Global Climate Change Education grant to Clarkson University, in collaboration with NYSERDA, for the delivery of project-based education to develop climate literacy in New York State. The project includes teacher workshops and the dissemination of information online and through regional and statewide conferences. For more information, please refer to the Clarkson University website: http://www.clarkson.edu/highschool/climate_ed/.

Energy Books for All Ages

NYSERDA has also assembled an annotated bibliography of books [PDF] on energy, the environment, and conservation, which may be useful for integration into your science or energy lessons. Books are organized by topic. In addition to a brief overview, the document provides information on the grade levels or ages for which each book would be most appropriate.

Additional Resources:

• The US Department of Energy website is a great source for creative lesson plans, labs, projects, and other energy-related activities for grades K-12: www1.eere.energy.gov/education/lessonplans/
• The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has loads of information for educators, as well as links to sites of interest to children: www.dec.ny.gov/26.html
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has produced an informative guide on energy efficiency programs for K-12 schools: www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf/k-12_guide.pdf
• The ScienceEducation.gov site provides a convenient source for lesson plans, curricula, classroom activities, and professional development opportunities related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education: www.ScienceEducation.gov
• The National Energy Foundation (NEF) is a source for high-quality books, posters, and educational materials on energy, conservation, and the environment—many of which have been used in NYSERDA’s educational programs: www.nef1.org